The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-10-14
BOARD OF TRADE.
Freight Charges Discussed and
500 Appropriated to Assist In
Prosecuting Complaints.

The regular meeting Of the Board o
Trade was held Monday morning, Mr.. ]
N. Hall presiding in the absence of th'
president and secretary.
A communication was received from
the Hastings Harvester works offering
to sell its plant for the manufacturing o
the Dewey low down binders. The mat
ter was referred to the manufacturing
committee.
The resignation Of Mr.. ]. 7. Lenfesty
was received and accepted.
The resignation of Mr.. ]. C. Wise was
received and he was unanimously re.
quested to reconsider IT.
Gen. Z. NJ. Pope stated what the State
Business Mems Association was doing TO
get freight rates reduced and stated that
it had made an assessment upon each
Board of Trade belonging to the associa-
ton TO pay expenses of litigation in the
courts and that Mankato's assessment
was $50, but asked that 500 be approp-
rated, as Mankato's interest in the mat
ter was greater than that of any other
city. On motion $50 was appropriated
to pay the assessment and Gen. Pope
was authorized TO draw on the Board of
Trade for an additional $50 should it be
needed.
In his remarks Gen. Pope stated that
the Business Mems Association had
been the cause of preventing the sus-
pension of of Section of the Interstate
commerce law and that it was now
working to get a pro rata freight rate as
compared with Waterville. Complaints
had been made against the Omaha road
to obtain an equitable distance tariff and
against the Chicago & Northwestern
road because that road had lower rate
east of GAINESVILLE than was just to more
westerly cities. He stated that the eff
fects of the success of these complaints
in the lumber, coal and grain trade will
be incalculable. Mankato was situated
on the western edge Of competitive rates
and it depended upon the success of
these comp Ialnts whether it was includ-
ed within this territory. He stated that
there was reason to believe that the
& st. Louis road was will
ing to give up their position in advance
of the decision of the commissioners on
a complaint made against them by the
Mankato Jobbers' Union. He thought
that there was no reason why Mankato
should not have large shipping trade
south and west as far as Sioux City,
Mitchell, Pierre and Red
field in case it can obtain the same rates
rs Winona and st. Paul have.
In answer to question Gen. Pope |
stated that the rates given Mankato
we're from 20 to 40 per cent. higher than
those of GAINESVILLE, while they should
be but per cent. higher. In this way
lost over 100000 annually in
freight charges, as nearly as could be es-
simated. He thought that trade would
increase ten fold In some cases if the |
point was gained. Mentioning incl
tents of unfair rates he stated that the
rate on kerosene to GAINESVILLE was 124
cents and 173 cents to Mankato, and on
II cents to GAINESVILLE and %
cents to Mankato.
A general discussion of the matter fol- |
owed in which it was shown that every
business man IN the city and every con-
sumner was directly interested in the
natter. Many were surprised that Man
zato was interested to an extent amount
ng to over 100000 annually, which
could be so much cash in the pockets of
ner citizens.
A committee consisting of Messrs.
Klein and Farr was appointed to solicit
The amount voted to the Business Mems
Association.
Adjourned. 60